Norway-based browser company Opera has officially launched its AI-powered browser, Neon, following months of testing. Unlike its free AI-enabled browsers, Neon requires a subscription of $19.90 per month, marking a premium entry into the growing AI-first browser market.
First unveiled in May 2025 and offered to select users in early access from October, Opera Neon integrates an AI chatbot directly into the browsing experience. Users can ask the AI questions about web pages, create mini apps and videos, and automate tasks. The browser leverages browsing history as context, enabling interactions such as fetching details from previously watched YouTube videos or revisited web posts.
Neon also introduces “Cards,” a feature for repeatable AI-powered tasks, and “Tasks,” which organizes tabs and AI chats into contained workspaces. This setup is similar to Tab Groups in traditional browsers but with integrated AI context, positioning Neon as a productivity-focused tool for power users.
Subscribers gain access to top AI models, including Gemini 3 Pro, GPT-5.1, Veo 3.1, and Nano Banana Pro. They also receive direct access to Opera’s developers and the company’s Discord community, fostering a collaborative early-adopter ecosystem.
Krystian Kolondra, Opera’s EVP of Browsers, said, “Opera Neon is a product for people who like to be the first to the newest AI tech. It’s a rapidly evolving project with significant updates released every week. We’ve been shaping it with our Founders community and are now excited to share early access with a larger audience.”
Opera emphasized that other browsers in its portfolio, including Opera One, Opera GX, and Opera Air, continue to offer free AI features, such as chat-based assistants. However, Neon represents Opera’s premium, AI-first experiment, aimed at users who want deeper AI integration and productivity tools.
The launch positions Opera alongside emerging AI-first browsers like Perplexity’s Comet, OpenAI’s Atlas, and The Browser Company’s Dia, while major incumbents such as Google and Brave are taking a more cautious approach to AI integration. Google recently outlined security measures for its AI features, while Brave is previewing agentic features in a nightly build, isolating AI usage from regular browsing profiles.
Neon highlights the trend of AI-first browsers catering to power users and early adopters, offering advanced tools and deeper AI experiences in exchange for a subscription. It signals that the browser market is no longer just about speed and privacy—AI-driven productivity and context-aware browsing are becoming key differentiators.
